SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2021 I ADVERTORIAL, ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PROMOTIONAL FEATURE I AHMEDABAD I’M HOPING TO CAPTURE MOST OF MY SPACE EXPLORATION TRIP ON CAMERA: SANTHOSH PAGE 3 Follow us on: twitter.com/AhmedabadTimes facebook.com/AhmedabadTimesTOI instagram.com/ahmedabadtimestoi | To advertise with us, call 1800 120 5474 OF INDIA I feel secure and complete with my I don’t feel that you husband Gautam: Kajal Aggarwal @kajalaggarwalofficial Prathamesh Bandekar need somebody to complete you, says Sangeeta Bijlani Onkar Kulkarni for movies. They would angeeta Bijlani, who was seen in be worried films like Qatil (1988), Tridev (1989) about the ac- S and Haatim Tai (1990), quit Bol- tress getting Sangeeta lywood after tying the knot with crick- married and Bijlani eter Mohammad Azharuddin in 1996. leaving the proj- The actress with husband Gautam Kitchlu Their marriage ended in 2010, and in re- ect. Today,Bollywood cent years, Sangeeta has been active on is far more organised and professional. WE ARE social media, where she shares fitness Ruman Ganguly There is such amazing content coming videos, and is also contemplating re- up. Also, newer avenues are opening up PROGRAMMED TO turning to show business. ajal Aggarwal, who tied the knot with en- like the digital space.” THINK THAT IF A WOMAN Sangeeta says that times have changed trepreneur Gautam Kitchlu in October 2020, When asked whether she regrets quit- in Bollywood, and actresses today are IS NOT WITH A MAN, K is back at work. She is currently in Kolkata ting films, she says, “No. It was a choice working not only after getting married, shooting for Tathagata Singha’s Hindi film, Uma. I made as I was getting married. I had had THEN SHE IS LONELY. but also after motherhood. She shares, The actress, who was recently seen in Mumbai Saga, enough, as I had been working from the “It’s fantastic that women are able to do LONELINESS IS WHEN speaks to us about life after marriage, her learnings age of 15. I began modelling during my that today.When I was working in films, during the COVID crisis and how leading a disci- school days and would be pampered at YOU FEEL THE NEED even if you had an affair with someone plined life helped her stay positive during the pan- fashion shows.” or confirmed that you had a boyfriend, FOR SOMEBODY TO demic. Excerpts: filmmakers would stop approaching you CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 COMPLETE YOU You got married in October 2020. How has life after marriage been? It has been wonderful. I am grateful for having such a loving, protective, understanding and amazing companion. Gautam is my best friend; I feel secure BUZZSTOP and complete with him. He is a great guy and an amazing husband. KAJAL We heard that you attended virtu- AGGARWAL HARBHAJAN AND GEETA al classes during the lockdown last year, and gave some English les- WHETHER OR NOT WELCOME A BABY BOY sons to your domestic help’s son. I HAD TO GO FOR A HARBHAJAN SINGH and GEETA BASRA have welcomed During the first wave, I was trying to SHOOT, I WOULD their second child, a baby boy, the cricketer shared on remain productive, so I kept myself busy by doing all these online cours- WAKE UP AT 6AM Saturday. “A new little hand for us to hold, his love is es. But during the second wave, I did- grand, precious as gold. A wonderful gift, so special and AND KEEP MYSELF me keep anxiety at bay. n’t feel motivated to do anything. So BUSY. HAVING A Many films had to opt for the digital re- sweet. Our hearts are full, our lives complete. We thank many children haven’t been able to the Almighty for blessing us with a healthy baby boy. attend school in the pandemic, so I ROUTINE HAS HELPED lease as theatres have been shut during helped my domestic help by teaching the pandemic. There has been a lot of talk Both Geeta and the baby are doing well (sic),” he wrote. her son. ME KEEP ANXIETY AT about the impact of the pandemic on the The couple also has a five-year-old daughter, Hinaya. What have been your biggest BAY DURING THE big-screen experience. What’s your take pandemic lessons? What helped PANDEMIC on it? you stay positive? OTT has grown by leaps and bounds in the This pandemic has taught me the im- past few years. Irrespective of the language portance of family, relationships and self-love. I realised how and medium, good content will always attract the audience. necessary it is to find time for yourself. It taught me the im- However, I believe that the theatrical experience cannot be re- Members Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, portance of work-life balance. Meditation and working out placed. People will come back to the theatres once the COVID helped me stay positive to a great extent. In the first lockdown, fear dies down. Tigmanshu Dhulia and Nikkhil my mother and I spent a lot of time cooking, which was thera- You’ve spent 17 years in the industry. Was it a smooth jour- peutic. In the second lockdown, my mother-in-law taught me ney or a roller-coaster ride? Advani attend first meeting of knitting and crocheting, which were helpful as well. We all are I’ve had my share of ups and downs, but I don’t have any re- in the same boat, and having a positive outlook is extremely grets or complaints. Things that did not go well for me have be- important. What helped me stay calm was the discipline that I come my major learnings. At the same time, I am overwhelmed OTT self-regulatory body DMCRC maintained. Whether or not I had to go for a shoot, I would wake by all the love and appreciation that the audience has showered up at 6 am and keep myself busy.Having a routine has helped me with. Ashwiny Iyer Tigmanshu PAGE 3 Tiwari Dhulia Nikkhil Advani Ways to be a responsible traveller when revenge travel is at its peak Pics: iStock ‘PEOPLE ARE NOW INDULGING IN EXPENSIVE VACAYS’ 70% Revenge travel is a phenomenon observed respondents ranked after the lockdown restrictions were health and safety as lifted which led to higher a key consideration footfalls in major tourist destinations. “Travel enthusiasts had to can- cel or alter their vaca- tion plans due to the % sudden surge in 52 COVID-19 cases dur- selected re-sanita- ing the second wave. tion of rooms as a Therefore in retali- key requirement ation, travellers are planning longer and more expen- sive vaca- % tions,” says 48 Siddharth wanted fully Yadav, VP of a vaccinated leading group of hotel staff, drivers hotels. Indians are loosen- Source: A leading travel agency survey in this June ing their purse strings with higher spending appetite for holidays. Shikha Shah movement and making up for lost time by not only stepping Besides extended weekends and longer out of their homes to explore some neighbourhoods of week to month long workations, there has ost Indians haven’t been able to travel their city but also venture into the wild in order to been a growth in people looking at travel- for 15 long months and the series of feel inspired and connected to nature, their ling solo as well as family holi- M lockdowns have understandably loved ones and themselves,” says days. “People want to live in created a strong pent up demand to get out of Ankita Sheth, co-founder of the moment rather than houses and take a holiday break. “We have a luxury villa rental planning for the future witnessed a growth of over 100 per cent on company. She adds, “In as one never really bookings week-on-week basis from June 15 revenge travel people knows when the onwards and this reflects the strong desire for are far less willing to next wave and travel among Indians,” says Rajeev Kale, cancel their vacation lockdown president & country head of a leading travel plans, we see almost restrictions agency.A travel survey conducted by the agency zero cancellations in occur," also revealed that 69 per cent respondents are bookings.” explains keen to travel in 2021, 18 per cent ready to travel We find out more Sheth. immediately post unlock and 51 per cent within about the trend and three to six months. “Revenge travel is a ways one can be a phenomenon driven by the fact that one feels responsible CONTD. restricted when one is forced to stay at home traveller amid the ON PG 2 only. This has led to people craving freedom of pandemic. CMYK 2 AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA LEISURE SUNDAY 11 JULY 2021 ‘Travel in small groups, follow all safety guidelines while vacaying’ Pics: iStock founder of a company that offers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 private vacation homes. Travel industry sources maintain that FOLLOW THESE RULES WHILE ‘PEOPLE ARE NOW OPEN TO destinations that have reopened TRAVELLING AMID PANDEMIC local sightseeing and eased bor- TRYING OUT DIFFERENT der protocols (either an RT-PCR OPTIONS’ report or without) are seeing Ease on travel restrictions doesn’t mean we let International travel is still not on highest growth; Himachal, our guards down. Here's how you can be a cards for most unless absolutely Ladakh, Kashmir are leading the responsible traveller necessary. People are sceptical game. Maldives, Goa, Dubai and about going to a new country as Russia are likely to witness a ■ Travel in small groups they are worried that it may shut surge in demand soon.